Swaziland: New Draft Bill to regulate broadcasting industry

The Government of Swaziland has launched a Swaziland Communications Commission Draft Bill 2009 to regulate the broadcasting sector in the country. Once the Bill becomes law, the Commission will among other things, issue licences to TV and radio broadcasters.

 

The Bill provides for a six-member commission that includes the Chief Executive Officer to carry out the functions of the commission. The members are all appointed by the Minister of Information, Communications and Technology (ICT), according to the Bill.

 

The Bill, which also seeks to revoke the regulatory powers and functions of the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunications (SPTC) Act of 1980 which regulates radio broadcasting and the Swaziland Television Authority Act of 1983 which regulates television broadcasting, has already been published by the ICT Ministry for public scrutiny. However, it is not clear as to when will the Bill be submitted to Parliament for debate.

 

The MISA-Swaziland is yet to study the Bill before submitting comments on it to the ICT Ministry.

 

Background

 

The government currently dominates the airwaves in Swaziland. Commercial and community radio broadcasters have applied, but in vain for licences under the current legislative framework. It is hoped the new framework will ease the licensing processes.

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Reagan Malumo

Programme Officer: Media Freedom Monitoring and Research

Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat

21 Johann Albrecht St

Private Bag 13386

Windhoek

Namibia

Phone: +264 61 232 975

Fax: +264 61 248 016

Mobile: +264 81 311 2626

Official Email: reagan@misa.org

Private Email: reagan32002@yahoo.com

 

 

- March 12, 2010 by MISA regional

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Source: www.misa.org (received via email alert on 12.03.10)